New Vegetable to Hit Store Shelves in U.K.

by Jennifer Lawinski, Posted Jan 20th 2010 @ 2:00PM

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Vegetables just got a little bit more interesting as the first new vegetable to hit store shelves in nearly a decade is making its debut in the U.K., the Daily Mail reported.

A cross between Brussels sprouts and curly kale, the new vegetable -- called the flower sprout -- is a small purple-and-green sprout with curly leaves. (Frankly, from the photo in the Daily Mail, we think it looks a lot more like kale than the sprout, but that's just us.)

It will be sold at Marks & Spencer grocery stores in Britain starting Monday -- the first new veggie added to the roster since tenderstem broccoli came on the scene in 2002, the Mail reported.

"Customers love our mini lemons and black apricots -- we hope people will be just as excited about tasting a completely new vegetable," M&S vegetable technologist Simon Coupe told the Mail.

"Both kale and Brussels sprouts are from the same species (Brassica oleracea) and are part of the same family called Brassicas or Crucifers. This means that their genetics are very similar even though their outward appearance is different," he said. This allows them to be cross-bred, creating a new hybrid species.

The flower sprout's taste is similar to that of the Brussels sprout, and it's best served steamed or stir fried.

One farmer growing the flower sprout, Martin Haines, told the Mail he has high hopes for the new vegetable. "We are so excited. I think our other sprouts are green with envy."

Filed Under: Farming, Food News
Tags: brussel sprouts, flower sprout, kale, new vegetable, new vegetable flower sprout, new vegetable to hit stores, tenderstem broccoli

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-20-2010 @4:32PM Squiggles said... Although I love most brassicas, Brussels sprouts are too bitter most of the time (despite cutting an X in the bottom to cook the bitter flavor out), so I'd be intrigued to taste this new little sprout, especially since I love Kale.
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1-20-2010 @5:44PM Anna said... Aggh. Brussel sprouts have sprouted a new progeny. Just when I thought it was safe to walk the produce aisles and shop open air produce markets, there is a new vegetable lurking about. A new vegetable that is just as "tasty" and "smells" just like brussel sprouts.

Oh no :)
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1-20-2010 @6:32PM r wilson said... Brussel sprout and kale, God forbid they should use two veggies people actually like.
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1-20-2010 @11:57PM Corey said... Seriously, this is lame. I couldn't agree more. How much money was spent in developing this? What about a a brussel sprout that tastes like chocolate chip cookies! Or Kale that tastes like cake! I'm just sayin'
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3-03-2010 @8:35PM papawasabi said... These have been around in Japan for a little while now. Not sure whether they came up with it first or not. Delicious tasting - even my 7 year old loves them. Of course, she also likes broccoli...
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